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The photovoltaic market world-wide has experienced an enormous 35% growth rate over the last five years. This course was developed for those seeking employment in the booming solar industry or for homeowners looking to install their own systems or hire a contractor. This workshop starts out with the very basics of photovoltaics (PV), and incrementally accelerates students to safely design and install a code compliant solar-electric system. PV Design and Installation provides a strong foundation in grid-tied, grid-tied with battery backup, and stand-alone systems.

This workshop is certified by the Institute of Sustainable Power (ISP) and fulfills the educational requirements for Category 'B' of NABCEP's Solar PV Installer Certification. This course also qualifies you to take the NABCEP PV Entry Level "Certificate of Knowledge" Exam. See www.nabcep.org for more information.

If you are serious about getting into the solar industry, you should also plan to take Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance. This workshop is intended to follow our first tier of workshops with the next level of design criteria, wire sizing calculations, maintenance issues, troubleshooting skill, and more information on batteries, charge controllers and hybrid system. (Note: You must complete PV Design and Installation BEFORE taking Advanced PV.)

6-day vs. 10-day workshop
The Colorado PV D&I workshops include 5 days in the classroom and 5 days of hands-on installation in the SEI PV Lab Yard.

The off-site PV workshops are shortened versions of the workshops offered in Colorado. In the 6-day format four days will be spent in the classroom and 2 days doing hands-on field work.

Check out our Women's only PV Design & Installation workshop as well!

For more workshop details please click on the Location links below.

Students leave this workshop being able to:

• Cite energy efficient solutions to reduce the load of a home
• Incorporate local climate and site conditions in a PV system design
• Evaluate the differences between commercially available components: modules, inverters, controllers, batteries, and racks
• Obtain and apply module data from a spec sheet
• Perform load analysis for a home or business
• Size a grid-tied system: inverter, array, wire, disconnects, overcurrent protection
• List advantages/disadvantages for various mounting types
• List order of commissioning and decommissioning & safety hazards
• Define net metering and state incentive programs
• Size a stand-alone system and specify the appropriate components: inverter, wire, charge controller, batteries, and modules
• Perform detailed site evaluation for determining system location and installation details

Topics Include

• Basics of Electricity
• Solar Site Analysis
• PV System Components
• Energy Efficient Appliances
• PV System Sizing
• Component Specification
• Stand-alone Systems
• Utility-Interactive Systems
• Electrical Wiring
• Safety Procedures
• Operation and Maintenance

Photovoltaics: Design & Installation Manual by SEI

Code Check: Electrical by Redwood Kardon, Douglas Hansen, and Mickeal Casey

• PV Design Online
• Grid-Tied PV
• Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance
• Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance (online)
• PV Lab Week
• Solar Water Pumping
• Solar Industry Seminar
• Successful Solar Businesses

"As an IT professional I have been subjected to many technical training classes. None of them have ever prepared me as well as this class, to be able to go out and implement what I have learned."
-- PV Design & Installation workshop participant, 2006

"There has never been a better time to become involved in the solar energy business, and SEI provides the most comprehensive education available."
-- Steve Burman, PV Design & Installation workshop participant, 2006

Workshops begin at 9 am unless otherwise noted. Please show up at 8:30 am the first day.